Development of novel genomic microsatellite markers in the southern beech Nothofagus pumilio (Poepp. et Endl.) Krasser.

We present 9 novel microsatellite loci isolated from the southern beech Nothofagus pumilio, an ecologically and economically important forest tree from Southern Patagonia. Polymorphism was tested in two natural populations of the species detecting from 2 to 16 different alleles. Observed heterozygosity values ranged from 0.118 to 0.867. No linkage disequilibrium was found among any locus combination. Transferability to other species of the genus was successful. These markers can be useful for population genetic and gene flow studies.